Whenever I watch a football or hockey game, I am always intrigued by the referees.  In both games, there are a few down on the field of play, smack deep in the middle of the action.  In a football game, the refs stay close to the line of scrimmage, amongst fully armored men, many weighing on average close to three hundred pounds.  To me, it's like standing next to horned buffalo in mating season: imagine having to stay in close proximity to lethal charging objects, all the while taking the chance you may get run over and stomped to death.  It's no different in hockey: there the field of play is even smaller as the refs skate alongside slashing sticks and razor-sharp blades; one bad move either way and you're toast.  I admire the refs for their willingness to take on danger all for the sake of following the rules.  But that's why there's always a few of them on the field at the same time: so there are various vantage points on the players and, if a question arises as to fair play, they can consult with each other about what the personal foul was and the exact penalty required.

Matthew's Gospel says the church should operate along these same lines.  In times of inevitable conflict, whenever a personal foul is called by one player on another, the church should have non-partisan refs whose job it is to negotiate a settlement between the two players.  Depending on the nature of the foul, first the players should try to decide between themselves what to do.  If that doesn't work, a ref or two should be called in to arbitrate. If need be, a whole team of refs should investigate as they may each have different angles on what was involved in the play.  One thing's for sure, there are proper procedures and rules for both playing and arbitrating the game and if such rules are not followed, chaos is the result and the game is over.  That's why every human organization needs good referees for they do their best work down in the midst of the play where the action is and where personal fouls can occur.  For the church, however, the head ref's name begins with a "J" and ends with an "S."  That's one view that never requires a playback.

 

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

 

‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’